Rail-joint spreader block



W. F. PR|CE RAIL JOINT SPREADER n ocx Filed March 10, 1925 Patented 213, 1926.

warren stares '1" EN? Q F t WILLIAM FL PRICE, OF TOEEKA, KANSAS.

RAIL-JOINT SPREADER BLOCK.

Application filed March 10, 1925. Serial 'No. 14,574.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. Peron, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Topeka, in the county of Shawnee, State of Kansas, have invented a new ILIldJHSQILll Improvement in Rail-Joint Spreader Blocks-,{of which thefollowing is a specification.-

The present invention relates to a device which maybe secured to theends of the rails serving to transmit the expansion or spreading force fromithe joint. spreader to the rails, In such devices, due to the magnitude of the force applied to the rails, there is a tendency for the latter to be bent and the rails to be kinked at the joints.

The primary object of this invention is to provide rail attachment means which is constructed so as to keep the rail ends in alignment and prevent bending thereof.

Other objects of this invention are to provide details of construction whereby a strong, compact, simple, economical, and durable structure is obtained.

The nature of the present invention may be well understood by illustrating it as used with the rail joint expander forming the subject matter of United States Letters Patent No. 1,493,792, granted to me May 13, 1924. This expander is of the type adapted to be used in a horizontal position with appropriate rail lugs. The present in vention relates to a structure adapted to be employed in this manner, and when so employed, the trains may be operated over the rails without removal of the attachment means or expander, the lug structure securely holding the ends of the rails.

These objects together with other objects and corresponding accomplishments are obtained by means of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing fragments of adjacent rails, my improved lug structure being secured thereto and expander in position; Fig. 2 is a section as seen on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a per spective view of one of the brace blocks.

InFig. 1, adjacent rails are indicated by A and B. The expander C is formed of pivoted jaws spread by a screw. Secured to the rails on one side are lugs D and on the opposite side are brace blocks E. The lugs shown herein comprise blocks projecting laterally. a distance greater than the head of the rails. The blocks are provided with recesses on the top and bottom to receive the bifurcated extensions of the jaws of the expander. The recesses are indicated by 1 and 5, and the'bifurcated ends by 6 and 7. Each block has bolts adapted to register with the openings punchedin the ends of the rails for the mounting of the usual. fisl1plates. The construction just described is similar to that shown in Patent 1,493,? 92. On the opposite sidesof the rails are the brace blocks. These comprise a base portion 8 having eyes 9 projecting laterally therefrom. The base is provided with bolt openings adapted to register with the fish plate bolt openings in the rails. In practice, a block D is placed on the outside of the rail and a brace block on the inside, the blocks being bolted to the rails. A brace bar 10 is then inserted in the eye openings, and the device is then ready for the application of the joint spreader thereto.

It will be obvious that the brace blocks and a brace bar will prevent bending of the ends of the rails and hold the adjacent rails firmly in position during spreading of the joints. Passage of a train over the joints will not be interfered with. The lug structure holds the ends of the rails together as securely as the fish plates would. However, the present invention is not limited to use with a spreader in horizontal position,.or with the particular spreader shown in the drawing, and described herein.

. What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of lug blocks adapted to be secured on one side of adjacent rails at a joint to provide a hold for an expander on the opposite side of the rails, which operates upon said rails by pressure in opposite directions upon said blocks and a brace structure at the joint holding the rails in longitudinal alignment and permitting movement of the latter to and from each other.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of lug blocks adapted to be secured on one side of adjacent rails at a joint to provide a hold for an expander on the opposite side of the rails, which operates upon said rails by pressure in opposite directions upon said blocks, a brace structure at the joint holding the rails in longitudinal alignment and permitting movement of the latter to and from each other comprising a brace rod extending slidably through said structure in a longitudinal direction.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of lug blocks adapted to be secured on one side of adjacent rails at a joint to provide a hold for an expander which operates upon said rails by pressure in opposite directions upon said blocks brace blocks on the side of the rails opposite to said lug blocks, and a brace rod slidably extended through said brace blocks so as to hold said rails in alignment and permit movement of the latter to and from each other.

4:. In a device of the class described, the combination of lug blocks adapted to be se- 7 cured on one side of adjacent rails at a joint to provide a hold for an expander which operates upon said rails by pressure in opposite directions upon said blocks, brace blocks fastened to the side of the rails opposite to said lug blocks, said brace blocks having registering openings aligned. longitudinally of said rails, and a brace rod slidably extending through said openings for holding the rails in longitudinal alignment and permitting movement of the latter to and from each other.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of lug blocks adapted to be secured on one side of adjacent rails at a joint to provide a hold for an expander which operates upon said rails by pressure in opposite directions upon said blocks, and brace blocks adapted to be rigidly fastened to the side of said rails opposite said lug blocks", said brace blocks having laterally extending eyes, and. a brace rod extending slidably through said eyes in a longitudinal direction so as to hold the rails in alignment and permit movement to and from each other.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th day of February, 1925. p

- WILLIAM F. PRICE. 

